Show Notes
Nick Bester, the coach and founder behind Best Athletics, joins Jake from Ran to Japan to talk training, recovery, motivation, and chasing marathon dreams. They cover everything from 280k weeks and smart cross-training to fuelling, heat adaptation, and whether YouTube helps or hinders performance. A must-listen for runners who love to train hard and smart.
More from The Best Athletics Podcast
Fresh off a 3 minute PB at the Berlin Marathon, Sam Griffiths joins Nick for a chat about the race, his running journey and just how far he can take it. They dive into Berlin and the pursuit of sub 2:20, Sam’s infamous 125km weeks, how his training has evolved and when he first realised he had the potential to run seriously fast. They also chat about getting into running and progressing, balancing strength work with high mileage, body composition and performance, and the big question: what would Sam choose sub 14:30 for 5K, sub 30 for 10K or sub 2:20 for the marathon? Plus… who wins a 400m race between Nick and Sam? 👀 And finally, what’s next for Sam?
Fresh off an outstanding performance at Comrades, Nick, founder of Best Athletics, sits down with elite runner George Kusche to discuss training, racing, fuelling and what it takes to perform at the highest level. From race day tactics to balancing training and recovery, George shares practical insights that runners of all abilities can apply to their own training.
In this episode, Nick Bester sits down with Cole Gibbens to unpack an incredible run at the Berlin Marathon going sub 2:30 despite tough conditions. We dive into how the race unfolded, handling the heat, and what it’s like to experience Berlin compared to London. We also cover the realities behind the performance: tummy issues, training blocks, mileage for mental health vs. overdoing it, and whether chasing the kind of mileage we’ve seen from the likes of Ran to Japan is worth it. We chat coaching (and a possible announcement 👀), calorie monitoring, and social media from Insta to YouTube. Plus, what it’s like stepping into the world as a sponsored adidas athlete, and what’s next in terms of training philosophy: mileage or more quality? An honest, insightful look behind the grind, the mindset, and the future 🙌🏽
In this episode of the Best Athletics Podcast, Nick Bester sits down with Robin Hughes, founder of Getahead an app that provides Mental Training Plans, to explore the often-overlooked side of performance - your mindset.
In this episode, Best Athletics founder Nick Bester sits down with strength and conditioning coach Kate from Valere Endurance to unpack everything runners need to know about strength work. From how often you should train, whether you really need a gym, to tackling persistent injuries like Achilles pain. This conversation is packed with practical advice. Kate shares her expert insights on injury prevention, muscle maintenance beyond age 25, and the one exercise no runner should skip. Whether you're a beginner or elite, this episode will help you build a stronger, more resilient running body. If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your running community. To learn more or work with Kate, follow @running.on.island.time on Instagram or visit the Valere Endurance website for details on their programs and contact info. Thanks for listening – and remember, strength is speed in disguise! https://www.valereendurance.com/